Labor MP Ed Husic taken to hospital with fractures and concussion after car accident

• The UN Security Council met on Wednesday to evaluate the ongoing threat posed by ISIL (Dae’sh) to global peace and security. • Briefings highlighted that ISIL, Al Qaeda, and their affiliates remain "adaptive and resilient" despite international counter-terrorism efforts.

• The Israeli military has ordered residents in southern Lebanon to evacuate for the first time in weeks, alleging that the Iranian-backed Hezbollah has committed a "blatant violation" of the current ceasefire. • Diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation were disrupted, with a State Department official reporting that the second day of talks ended prematurely due to escalating events on the ground.

• President Donald Trump has initiated a high-pressure diplomatic strategy combining military threats and negotiations to resolve tensions with Tehran. • The confrontation centers on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime corridor that serves as a defining symbol of global energy security.

• The United States reports that a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is nearing completion following "positive" diplomatic talks between Iran and Oman. • Negotiators are currently focused on expanding safe shipping lanes through the strait, although several key differences between the parties remain unresolved.

• International diplomatic talks have intensified to resolve the ongoing conflict involving Iran and secure safe maritime passage through the Strait of Hormuz. • The situation is critical because the strait serves as a primary global artery for energy supplies, making any disruption a threat to international oil markets.

• The 75-year-old global refugee system, established by the Refugee Convention and Protocol, is facing a crisis of effectiveness as it struggles to adapt to modern geopolitical realities. • While 149 state parties officially maintain their commitment to the treaties, the author argues that these obligations are being "hollowed out" in practice.

• Professor Rodrigue Tremblay published an analysis on August 4, 2026, arguing that U.S. President Donald Trump is more corrupt and dangerous than corporate media portrayals suggest. • The piece focuses on Trump's conduct since his second inauguration on January 20, 2025, claiming his actions demonstrate a significant risk to governance.

Chief executive Robert Thomson says ‘crass kleptomaniac’ AI companies are ‘in possession of stolen goods’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNews Corp has reported a slight slide in digital subscriptions at its Australian mastheads, erasing recent gains, among otherwise robust financials at the Rupert Murdoch-backed global conglomerate.Digital subscribers at News Corp Australia – a division that includes the Australian, the Daily Telegraph and the Herald Sun, among others – fell from 1,166,000 to 1,162,000 during the financial year, according to the company’s internal data published in its full year results on Thursday morning. Continue reading...

A 45-year-old man and 23-year-old woman were found dead in the Charleville home after a near eight-hour siege by policeAn hours-long siege has ended in tragedy after a man and woman were found dead in an outback home.Several streets in Charleville, 600km west of Toowoomba in Queensland, were thrust into lockdown after police were called to investigate reports of a serious assault at the home around 6pm on Wednesday. Continue reading...

The 20-year-old’s third calf is being monitored by officials as survival rates for the species are challenging, the zoo saidThe Toronto Zoo has announced the birth of a female pygmy hippo calf.Kindia, the zoo’s 20-year-old pygmy hippo, started showing signs of labor at around 8.15am last Sunday, it said. Around four hours later, the calf’s feet emerged and after 1.5 hours of active labor, Kindia successfully gave birth to the baby pygmy hippo. Continue reading...

Jeanine John Taele detained for ‘suspicious’ behavior after he allegedly took photos and videos ahead of Trump visitA California man who was arrested at Donald Trump’s Los Angeles-area golf course ahead of a presidential visit is facing more charges, as authorities released more details about the investigation.Authorities say federal agents first observed 38-year-old Jeanine John Taele near the the golf grounds in Rancho Palos Verdes on 31 July, wearing an ear piece and capturing photographs and videos of security agents assessing the property. Continue reading...